Chapter 1 - Toxicology of metals: Overview, definitions, concepts, and trends

Abstract

Metals and their compounds have long been recognized as important toxic agents, causing acute and chronic poisoning cases in occupational settings and in environmental situations with high levels in food. In recent years it has been demonstrated in epidemiological studies that exposures in the general environment to low levels of toxic metals may make an important contribution to the global burden of disease. Furthermore, deficient intakes of essential metals through the diet give rise to a considerable burden of disease from a global perspective. There is an obvious need for preventive action to decrease this global burden of disease. It is also important to address current situations where there are increases of metal exposures. To bring down such exposures is an important component of the global efforts to achieve a sustainable development. This chapter highlights such concerns in relation to the current status of the scientific understanding of the metals included and discussed fully in the relevant chapters of this Handbook. Furthermore, it draws attention to future directions for generating new knowledge to fill gaps in the continued quest to assemble the knowledge base necessary for the protection of human health from adverse consequences related to exposure to metals.